Pet Insurance for Dogs and Cats

About Pets Best Insurance

If you’re like many pet owners today, you’ll do whatever it takes to keep your pet happy and healthy. Our plans help make that possible by offering reimbursement levels of 70%, 80% or 90%, after a deductible. We also offer a 100% level of reimbursement.

March 26, 2008 ( Boise, ID) – Pets Best Insurance is now available in the state of New York and across the United States . Beginning immediately, Pets Best Insurance is available to New York residents online by visiting www.petsbest.com or by telephone at 1-866-405-3647.

Over twenty-five years ago, veterinarian Jack Stephens, D.V.M., stopped practicing veterinary medicine and founded the pet insurance industry in the United States . Back in 1982 it was the last thing Dr. Stephens thought he would ever do, leave a successful small animal practice to go into insurance. But he did not want to euthanize another pet because the family could not afford care.

Today, pet families are doing much more to care for their pets. In fact, most consider our pets to be a member of the family and deserving of the best possible health care. This translates to spending in excess of 40 billion dollars on our pets with half of that cost focused on providing veterinary care.

According to Dr. Stephens, there are good reasons for the greater spending and important value we place on our pets. He states there are both physiological and psychological benefits to pet companionship.

As our families have diversified and geographically separated, more and more of us are relying on our pets for social support.

Our pets help us relieve stress and provide a great excuse to exercise, get out and meet our neighbors, and to care for something other than ourselves.

Studies have shown that people in nursing homes or those recovering from illnesses (even life-threatening illnesses like cancer) feel better and recover more quickly when they have the benefit of owning or having visits with a pet.

In a survey of surgery patients, those with a companion pet reported less post-surgical pain than those without a pet.

Heart attack victims with a companion pet had double the survival rate than non-pet owners.

According to Dr. Jack Stephens, “Pets increase our health and wellness and can reduce our own healthcare costs. Personally, I have witnessed pets eliminate depression, and I was aided greatly in my own recovery from life-threatening throat cancer seventeen-years ago by Spanky a small dog that had a very positive effect on me.”

Spanky was instrumental in Dr. Stephens’s attitude and recovery and never left his side during the months of treatment. His chances of recovery were not originally very good, in fact, he was given only 6-12 months to live, but he pulled through and some of the credit belongs to Spanky. As a result of his observations of his recovery and others, he began to research and even funded studies that scientifically validated the beneficial effects of pets on humans.

“A lot of data has been developed over the years about the human health benefits of pets. The evidence is conclusive that we are healthier and have a greater sense of wellness when we have a pet. Of course, with this important bond with our pets realized, we want to provide the best possible care. Pet insurance can provide a financial safety net and important peace of mind that we can afford to provide the best care. Today, euthanasia of healthy pets has decreased tremendously due in part to society realizing the health and wellness benefits of pet ownership. Pet insurance is also helping, but there is still much more work to do. Of the insurable pets, or likely insurable pets in the United States , we are only insuring 2 to 3%. Yet we know that each year approximately 20% of all pet owners will face a serious health issue with their pet that will require costly care,” said Stephens.

The state of New York is the second largest pet population in the United States and over 3,500 veterinarians. From our history founding pet insurance, we know that New York is an extraordinary pet loving community that provides very well for their pets. We look forward to doing our part to support increasing pet health through funding more care with Pets Best Insurance and by providing more support to New York’s pet shelters with our ShelterBest, Racing to Save Pets, shelter support and outreach program, in the great pet state of New York,” said Dr. Stephens.

According to the Pet Manufacturers Association, in the United States , 63% of households have pets and 37% of pet owners consider their pets important family members. Over 70 Million U.S. households own dogs or cats, and 45% of U.S. households own more than one pet. The association estimates that total pet related expenditures in the United States are in excess of 40 billion dollars.

Pets Best Insurance reimburses pet owners for services from the veterinarian they choose, with no schedules or fee restrictions, truly establishing it as “Simply the Best Pet Insurance!” Pets Best Insurance was founded by Dr. Jack Stephens, the pioneer of the pet insurance with over 25 years in the pet insurance industry. Dr. Stephens is also an accomplished veterinarian and avid pet enthusiast. Pets Best includes a choice of four affordable coverage plans with a straightforward 80:20 claims reimbursement structure and NO benefit schedules. The Pets Best Insurance team is a highly skilled and professional group of pet lovers who have developed products based on innovation and insight into veterinary care. Visit Pets Best Insurance at www.petsbest.com or phone the integrated call center 877-PetsBest (738-7237). Pets Best, Simply the Best Pet Insurance.

CBSI is the leading developer of marketing and account enhancement programs for financial institutions and corporations. CBSI provides programs and services that reach over 200 million consumers. Pets Best Insurance is a leading provider of pet insurance that is experiencing extraordinary acceptance and growth. Pets Best Insurance provides pet owners with 80% coverage after a deductible for veterinary health care, and also provides wellness benefits. Pets Best is earning high marks among consumers and veterinarians because there are fewer limitations, policy holders can choose any veterinarian, and enjoy easy state-of-the-art online claims technology and fast reimbursements. Sponsors such as credit card and checking account issuers, and membership benefit providers can contact CBSI to offer pet health insurance to their customers or members.

According to a recent survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 63% of households own a pet, and pet owners spent $40.8 billion on their pets in 2007, up from $29.5 billion five years ago. Pet owners care for over 85 million cats and 70 million dogs and spent $9.8 billion for veterinary care last year.

CBSI Vice President Peter Alter notes that, “Pet-owning households are double the number of households with children, and pet spending is one of the top 10 retail segments in the U.S. We are all pet lovers here at CBSI, and this program is a great way for pet owners to be able to economically take care of injured or ill pets.” Alter adds, “Credit card and debit card spending for pets and their care is a large category for consumer bank account issuers. Financial institution sponsors can provide the program to their customers through a number of marketing channels including billing statements and websites. When customers sign up and have their monthly premiums billed to their account, not only do sponsors earn fees, but their account retention is improved as enrolled customers will want to keep their benefits in place to care for their pets.”

The founder of Pets Best Insurance is Dr. Jack Stephens. According to Dr. Stephens, “In my many years of providing pet insurance to families, today is an important milestone that will translate into major expansion for our company and pet insurance in general. CBSI is one of the most respected, successful and innovative providers to our nation’s financial institutions.”

Dr. Stephens adds, “Today’s announcement is clearly a signal that pet insurance has finally arrived and millions more pet families will realize the importance and benefits of pet insurance. This greatly improves our ability to grow the entire industry, and we thank CBSI for their foresight and understanding of the importance of pets in our households.” Dr. Stephens is the pioneer of pet insurance in America and is considered the most experienced innovator of pet insurance in the United States with over twenty-five years of experience.

Pets Best is licensed in all 50 states and underwritten by North Pointe Insurance, rated ‘A’- Excellent by A.M. Best.

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CBSI is a leading developer of direct response marketing programs designed to attract, activate and retain customers, and generate revenue. The thirty – five year old firm based in Harrison, NY, near New York City with a mid west office in suburban Chicago, provides enhancement programs that provide travel protection, retail purchase protection, identity theft and disability-unemployment benefits that cover more than 200 million consumers. Call 914-381-5353 for more information.

About Pets Best Insurance: Pets Best Insurance reimburses pet owners for services from the veterinarian they choose, with no schedules or fee restrictions, truly establishing it as “Pet insurance that really pays!” Pets Best Insurance was founded by Dr. Jack Stephens, the pioneer of American pet insurance with over 25 years in the pet insurance industry. Dr. Stephens is also an accomplished veterinarian and avid pet enthusiast. Pets Best includes a choice of three affordable coverage plans with a straightforward 80:20 claims reimbursement structure and NO benefit schedules. The Pets Best Insurance team is a highly skilled and professional group of pet lovers who have developed products based on innovation and insight into veterinary care. Visit Pets Best Insurance at www.petsbest.com or phone Pets Best Insurance at 877-PetsBest (738-7237). Pets Best, Simply the Best Pet Insurance! Media Contact: Brett Johnson at Pets Best Insurance 1-877-738-7237 ext. 641

January 31, 2008, (Boise, ID) Today Pets Best Insurance hosted a delegation of business leaders anddignitaries from Japan and the state of Idaho to announce the launch of their brand of pet insurance inJapan. Pets Best founders, Jack Stephens DVM, and Greg McDonald, along with Pets Best Japan founderMr. Iwao Nonaga were on hand to meet with local Boise media about this historic expansion of pet healthinsurance from the United States to Japan.

Although several European pet insurance companies have expanded outside their countries’ borders, thismarks a first for a leading pet insurance provider in the United States to expand its technology, businessprocesses and brand outside the United States and the first pet insurance company in Japan.

With a declining human birth rate in Japan, pets are becoming an integral part of the family. There are over25 million dogs and cats in Japan. Pets, according to a survey of Japanese pet owners, are consideredfriends and provide spiritual support. Just as in the United States and Europe, the rise in stature of petsincreases the utilization of veterinary care, resulting in greater need for pet insurance. Pets once consideredonly objects, were changed by legislation in 2004 as objects with life, an important distinction in Japaneseculture. Pets fulfill a needed role in Japanese society, just as in the United States by reducing stress,providing companionship, improving “good feeling” hormones and bringing joy to families.

The founder of Pets Best Japan spent several years doing an analysis of pet insurance in North America andEurope, focusing on products and systems. After an exhaustive search, the principals decided that PetsBest had the best product and proprietary software system for pet insurance. Mr. Iwao Nonaga, the founderof Pets Best Japan said, “After dealing with many companies in North America and Europe, we found thatDr. Jack Stephens, the founder of pet insurance in the United States, was by far the person with the mostknowledge and insight to provide us with a model for success. Our goal was to have a highly automated,streamlined system from which to operate and the best product to market to a highly discerning market inJapan.”

The multi year agreement provides for all current and future automated underwriting and claims systems tobe utilized in Japan. In addition certain proprietary and patent pending processes and procedures of PetsBest will be utilized by Pets Best Japan in exchange for an upfront fee and ongoing royalties based onsales. In addition, Dr. Stephens will serve on the Pets Best Japan board of directors and be a senior advisorto the company. “The diligence and planning of Mr. Nonaga and his team was superlative and in greatdepth.” Said Dr. Stephens. “In all my years I never experienced such due diligence and all of us at PetsBest are extremely proud that we were chosen over all other pet insurers in the world for this agreement.”

Pets Best Insurance reimburses pet owners for services from the veterinarian they choose, with noschedules or fee restrictions, truly establishing it as “Pet insurance that really pays!” Pets Best Insurancewas founded by Dr. Jack Stephens, the pioneer of pet insurance with over 25 years in the pet insuranceindustry. Dr. Stephens is also an accomplished veterinarian and avid pet enthusiast. Pets Best includes achoice of four affordable coverage plans with a straightforward 80:20 claims reimbursement structure andNO benefit schedules. The Pets Best Insurance team is a highly skilled and professional group of pet loverswho have developed products based on innovation and insight into veterinary care. Visit Pets BestInsurance at www.petsbest.com or phone Pets Best Insurance at 877-PetsBest (738-7237). Pets Best,Simply the Best Pet Insurance.

With half of dogs and cats over age 10 dying of cancer, Dr. Jack Stephens and Pets Best Insurance step up and provide free oncology consultations with a cancer specialist for any pet.

All Pets with Cancer in U.S. Provided Free Consultation

— With half of dogs and cats over age 10 dying of cancer, Dr. Jack Stephens and Pets Best Insurance step up and provide free oncology consultations with a cancer specialist for any pet. —

November 14, 2007 ( Boise, ID) — When Jack Stephens, DVM, founder and president of Pets Best Insurance, was diagnosed with throat cancer, he received emotional support from his small dog, Spanky. Recognizing that cancer now claims the lives of one in every two dogs and cats who are 10 years or older, this cancer survivor set out to find a way to assist companion animals diagnosed with this disease.

Effective immediately, all pets diagnosed with cancer in the United States are eligible for a free cancer consultation from Oncura Partners, a national pet cancer specialty firm with the costs underwritten by Pets Best Insurance. Pet families are not required to have a policy with Pets Best Insurance, but their consultation request must come from their veterinarian.

Veterinarians are embracing this news, including Alice Villalobos, DVM, a pioneer in pet cancer medicine and author of Canine & Feline Geriatric Oncology: Honoring the Human-Animal Bond. “The bonds that clients have developed with their older pets are especially strong and drive the increasing demand for more proficient and highly compassionate medical treatment of companion animals diagnosed with cancer,” says Dr. Villalobos, who operates the Pawspice Care Clinic in Hermosa Beach, Calif. and the Animal Oncology Consultation Service in Woodland Hills, Calif. Dr. Villalobos continued, “we applaud this important effort by Pets Best and Oncura Partners. Making treatments for cancer more accessible will certainly save a great deal of grief for many pet families and extend the lives of many, many pets.”

Pets Best Insurance recognizes that the key to successful cancer treatment is an early diagnosis and effective treatment regime. Sadly, qualified cancer specialists are not always available locally. This may cause pet owners and their local veterinarians to not seek specialized treatment. Or, the costs may be high and the travel time for treatments may be prohibitive for some pet owners.

“All too often, cancer treatments for pets do not happen because of the hassle of taking your pet elsewhere, sometimes requiring driving long distances for specialized treatments that may be needed weekly or even more often,” says Dr. Villalobos. “Or people have to hospitalize their pets far from home for weeks or months.”

“Now with this process, many cancer treatments can be successfully implemented, monitored and adapted by a person’s own veterinarian with the benefit of a cancer specialist assisting in every step,” she adds.

In the broader perspective, this initiative was created to keep pets living longer, healthier lives and enable them to bring joy to their families. “And that is our mission at Pets Best,” stated Dr. Stephens. “We strive to provide the reimbursement for the best pet care possible.”

This effort by Dr. Jack Stephens and Pets Best Insurance is in addition to the pledge of $1 million to the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) canine cancer cure campaign made in July of this year. Dr. Jack Stephens and Pets Best Insurance have been honored and recognized by MAF as a “Canine Cancer Campaign SuperHero’s,” joining Pfizer Animal Health as the second $1 million contributor to the campaign.

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About Pets Best Insurance: Pets Best Insurance reimburses pet owners for services from the veterinarian they choose, with no schedules or fee restrictions, truly establishing it as “Pet insurance that really pays!” Pets Best Insurance was founded by Dr. Jack Stephens, the pioneer of American pet insurance with over 25 years in the pet insurance industry. Dr. Stephens is also an accomplished veterinarian and avid pet enthusiast. Pets Best includes a choice of three affordable coverage plans with a straightforward 80:20 claims reimbursement structure and no benefit schedules. The Pets Best Insurance team is a highly skilled and professional group of pet lovers who have developed products based on innovation and insight into veterinary care. Visit Pets Best Insurance at www.petsbest.com or phone Pets Best Insurance at 877-PetsBest (738-7237). Pets Best, Simply the Best Pet Insurance.

About Oncura Partners: Oncura Partners provides comprehensive cancer care for companion animals through our partnership with board-certified oncology professionals and the use of online tools and veterinary facilities, nationwide. We offer these resources to help improve your patients’ quality of life using advanced techniques to treat cancer, while supporting the business of veterinary oncology. Learn more by calling 866-233-9100

About MAF: Morris Animal Foundation, established in 1948, is dedicated to funding research that protects, treats and cures companion animals and wildlife. MAF has been at the forefront of funding breakthrough research studies benefiting animals in some 100 countries, spanning all seven continents on earth. MAF has its headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The Foundation has funded more than 1,300 humane animal health studies with funds approaching $50 million. One hundred percent of all annual, unrestricted contributions support animal health studies, not administration or the cost of fund raising. For more information, call (800) 243-2345.

BOISE, ID – October 24, 2007 – Does technology equal freedom? Some companies think so – companies like Pets Best Insurance who have found that allowing employees to work from home has increased productivity and employee satisfaction. When Jack Stephens, DVM, created the first and most successful pet insurance company in the United States over twenty-five years ago, there was not a model to follow or a plan in place to measure results. In 2005, Dr. Stephens launched a new pet insurance company called Pets Best Insurance to utilize his twenty-five years of experience. The Pets Best model is very simple: straightforward 80% coverage and rapid claim processing. While other insurance companies are building new claims processing centers, Pets Best Insurance is increasing productivity and decreasing its reliance on building space. Pets Best is one year into a program that offers multiple work-from-home positions, including claims and customer service.

Like many of the team members at Pets Best Insurance, Shannon Moore applied for a job with Pets Best because she loves animals. She has always had pets as part of her family and has been working with animals as both a veterinary technician and certified animal trainer for over a decade. She wanted to turn her passion for animals and their care into a more rewarding career. In 2005, Shannon joined Pets Best Insurance as a claims adjuster and in early 2007 moved to working from home. This has allowed her the ability to keep a close eye on her retired professional jumping horse, “Eagle,” as well as her deaf dog, “Sid.”

According to Shannon, Pets Best Insurance provides a level of freedom that includes making a great living while also creating an environment where she has the freedom to care for her pets and provides her with peace of mind that they are happy and healthy during the long workdays. “I have all of the resources I need to be successful. The entire claims team through our virtual office and chat room supports me. I have excellent computer equipment with full IT and phone support when needed. With our advanced technology and the communications among our team, it really seems funny that we ever needed to work in an office in the first place. I like being at home with my family. It is a perfect fit for me, and I couldn’t imagine doing it any other way now,” Shannon said.

For Jared Hight, Claims Manager for Pets Best, this program has helped ensure that the claims department has access to the best possible talent from anywhere in the country with Internet access. It also places one more employee benefit in the Pets Best arsenal for obtaining and retaining that talent. “Although Pets Best was designed for remote workforce, when this program began we were not sure how it would work out. The success of remote work from home has surpassed our expectations. We have increased productivity by 45% for all of our claim adjusters and the team is very happy. There are now four adjusters working from home and I am the only one in the office. When we bring on new team members, they are required to spend several weeks at our offices in Boise training and learning the Pets Best culture before they work from home. It requires the right type of team member to work from home to be successful and it may not be good for everyone, but for our claims adjusting team it is highly successful,” he said.

About Pets Best Insurance: Pets Best Insurance reimburses pet owners for services from the veterinarian they choose, with no schedules or fee restrictions, truly establishing it as “Pet insurance that really pays!”

Pets Best Insurance was founded by Dr. Jack Stephens, the pioneer of American pet insurance with over 25 years in the pet insurance industry. Dr. Stephens is also an accomplished veterinarian and avid pet enthusiast. Pets Best includes a choice of three affordable coverage plans with a straightforward 80:20 claims reimbursement structure and NO benefit schedules. The Pets Best Insurance team is a highly skilled and professional group of pet lovers who have developed products based on innovation and insight into veterinary care. Visit Pets Best Insurance at www.petsbest.com or phone Pets Best Insurance at 877-PetsBest (738-7237). Pets Best, Simply the Best Pet Insurance.

Pet insurance coverage offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC is underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company, a Delaware insurance company. Independence American Insurance Company is a member of The IHC Group, an organization of insurance carriers and marketing and administrative affiliates that has been providing life, health, disability, medical stop-loss and specialty insurance solutions to groups and individuals for over 30 years. For information on The IHC Group, visit: www.ihcgroup.com. Additional insurance services administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC are underwritten by Prime Insurance Company. Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own products.

Please note: This blog is designed to be a community where pet owners can learn and share. The views expressed in each post are the opinion of the author and not necessarily endorsed by Pets Best Insurance. Always consult your veterinarian for professional advice.